Illinois State 28, Western Kentucky 27

10/7/2006 11:13 PM

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) -A missed field goal attempt by Western Kentucky's Chris James gave Illinois State a 28-27 win Saturday, its first over Western Kentucky since the Hilltoppers joined the Gateway Conference in 2001.

Illinois State's biggest drives of the game came right before and after halftime. With just 2:22 to play in the first half, the Redbirds ran 80 yards in nine plays and scored when quarterback Luke Drone found fullback Garin Harcar open for a one-yard touchdown with just 22 seconds remaining.

The Redbirds carried that momentum in the second half as they ran 78 yards on 10 plays before halfback Pierre Rembert ran it from 13-yards out for the score, making it a 21-13 Illinois State lead.

Western answered as Rashad Etheridge returned the ball 47 yards to the Redbird 47-yard line. Five plays later Moore punched it in for a one-yard touchdown.

Western took the lead on its next possession when Haddix connected with Hamilton for a 45-yard scoring strike. Haddix followed with a completion on the two-point conversion, which was negated by an illegal man down field penalty.

Illinois State got its most impressive drive of the game to open up the fourth quarter. Rembert led the Redbird charge as he carried the ball eight times on a 13-play, 80-yard drive, which he capped off with a two-yard plunge into the endzone. With a Kevin Mazur kick Illinois State had all the lead it would need at 28-27.

Western was able to drive the ball down to the Redbird one-yard line, but elected to kick the field goal on fourth down. With the ball lined up on the left hash, James kick ricocheted off the cross bar and back into the end zone.